A serious competition for the seat of Mayor of Ventspils has been brewing for a good time against Aivars Lembergs.

The head of the opposition is once a deputy of the previous city council, former member of Harmony Centre and currently non-party Chairman of Ventspils Grain Terminal Vladislav Shafranskis, and business consultant to Kālija parks, financier and economist, member of Reform Party Aivis Landmanis. Both will be starting on the elections as first numbers of the united Regional Alliance and Reform Party list. Landmanis is proposed for the post of Mayor of Ventspils. Shafranskis is helping him achieve this goal, Latvijas Avīze writes.

“In the eight years since we began to work in politics, we have learned to defend our interests, unlike residents of other cities. We feel completely free in this regard. We are not ashamed to have different views”, – Landmanis says. He admits that it is problematic to create an opposition in Ventspils that would have strong views, because people are afraid to openly express opinions that differ from those of Lembergs. His influence is in the whole of the municipality, state and municipal institutions and banks.

Landmanis and Shafranskis believe it is not normal to have a bank present at the port for the sole purpose of crediting companies that are unable to work economically. One is bankrupt, the other cannot afford to pay salaries on time, some other company needs creditor protection service. Those are companies that enter Ventspils with their own money, but are never let in.

Shafranskis despises people whose character is similar to that of “bunnies scared of Lembergs” and who do everything he asks. “During the Soviet era, he learned to process people on a psychological level, so now he acts as though a snake. He has plenty of bunnies – he needs an obedient voting instrument”, – the businessman concludes. Landmanis adds: “If only the transit money was used to benefit society, Latvia would not have a crisis at all ”.

Both believe Ventspils is a catalyst for positive changes in Latvia’s life – so long as Ventspils only has a clean facade and the taxpayers money is spent solely to advertise a single political party and its infamous leader, so long as there is only one “true” correct opinion, there will be no positive change in any direction for Latvia.

Leader of the National Alliance – Raivis Dzintars – said with the fall of Lembergs’ rule, Harmony Centre (HC) will come to power in Ventspils. Residents who know Ventspils’ political cuisine say the list of HC was coordinated with the city’s master before it was publicly announced. Even though HC denies this claim, there is a point in their cooperation: the Union of Greens and Farmers is in good relations with HC in the Saeima.

Lembergs himself lets to believe that he is not the least bit worried about being suspended from his seat. He also sees no increase in opposition. He says that residents complain to the media that Ventspils offers low salaries, too few jobs, and that people are leaving the city. According to him – it is not worth listening to chatter on the streets.

On the other hand, when answering the question why Ventspils has not a single large clothing store, Lembergs said that would be a waste of money – to buy clothing, footwear and cosmetics in Latvia.

The achievements of For Latvia and Ventspils party are available on both the official page of Ventspils City Council and in the local newspaper Ventas Balss. Nearly 500 thousand LVL were paid to Ventas Balss for the informational campaign of 2012 and 2013. This money was provided courtesy of the taxpayers of Ventspils. Meanwhile, deputies of the opposition pay for their own advertisements – they have no place in Ventas Balss.

Some offshore company had purchased capital shares of Ventas Balss under the cover of once the commercial director of Neatkarīgās Rīta Avīze Mikhail Soifer. According to Pietiek‘s acquired 2002 signed “management entrusting agreement”, the British Virgin Isles registered Farrell Finance Corporation had hired Soifer as the manager to buy the shares of Ventas Balss.

The agreement notes that Soifer was to receive 10 thousand LVL from the offshore firm. According to the portal’s information, this amount was paid to him. The exact owner of Farrell is unknown, but the fact that Farrell‘s official representative was Gints Laivis-Laivinieks – a long-term associate and personal business affair settling lawyer of Aivars Lembergs.

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